Though our new president may not realize it, Congress has the power to obtain his tax returns and reveal them to the public without his consent, including returns under audit.

Congress’s right to reveal tax information independent of the president’s authority proved extremely important in 1973 and 1974, when President Richard Nixon became entangled in a controversy involving his claim of a sizable charitable deduction for giving his official papers to the National Archives. Nixon initially stonewalled the inquiries, including making his famous statement that “I am not a crook.” When the pressure increased, he contended correctly that the IRS had already audited the pertinent returns and not ordered any change.

But a leak subsequently revealed that Nixon, despite having income of more than $200,000, had paid about the same amount of tax as families with incomes under $10,000. Outrage at this revelation eventually led Nixon to seek review of his taxes from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, which delegated the task to its respected nonpartisan staff. The staff ultimately found that Nixon owed almost $500,000 in additional taxes over four years — roughly one-half of his net worth at the time. Because of the importance of the matter to the nation, the Joint Committee exercised its authority and voted 9 to 1 (three Republicans joined six Democrats) to release the staff report, including Nixon’s confidential tax return information, to the public.

Several polls, including one released the day before his latest press conference, show that a sizable portion of the public does think Trump’s tax returns are an important issue. These polls word their questions differently, but most results showed a majority of Americans believed the issue was relevant, undermining Trump’s assertion that only the media wants to explore the issue.

We rate Trump’s statement False.

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At this point, what difference does it make

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With all the rumored conflicts of interest surrounding Trump's foreign investments and business deals, the release of his tax returns would serve a national interest. The American people have a need to know their president is not, under the color of authority, using his office to benefit himself.

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Nobody Cares! His only "conflict of interest" is that he wants to undo the Progressive Jihad on America

Several polls, including one released the day before his latest press conference, show that a sizable portion of the public does think Trump’s tax returns are an important issue. These polls word their questions differently, but most results showed a majority of Americans believed the issue was relevant, undermining Trump’s assertion that only the media wants to explore the issue.

We rate Trump’s statement False.

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Here is what I think of polls

"Can Donald Trump win? It's possible, but certainly a long shot. On the morning of the election, Hillary Clinton holds the edge over Trump, though her once commanding national lead now stands at 3 points and she's lost the advantage in several key battleground states. Once hopelessly behind in the electoral count, Trump has pulled within striking distance over the last two weeks, but will need a last-minute miracle to pull off the win. Real Clear Politics' electoral map based on state poll averages shows Clinton barely edging Trump 272 to 266."

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All polls are not the same. Those state polls predicting an election differ from a Gallup poll reflecting public opinion on key issues

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This from Gallup

"The average "gap" estimate on the national popular vote as calculated by RealClear Politics prior to the election was 3.3 points. This means the national popular vote estimate will end up being significantly closer to the actual result than was the case in 2012, and well within the margin of error. To come within less than two percentage points on the gap is a remarkable polling achievement and should be applauded.

But, given that the Electoral College determines the winner, state-level polls are what matters for those interested in projecting the outcome of a presidential election. And projecting the Electoral College outcome using polling essentially comes down to the accuracy of polls conducted in a handful of swing states. The outcome in the vast majority of other states is predetermined in all but wave elections (the last wave election was in 1984)."

Though our new president may not realize it, Congress has the power to obtain his tax returns and reveal them to the public without his consent, including returns under audit.

Congress’s right to reveal tax information independent of the president’s authority proved extremely important in 1973 and 1974, when President Richard Nixon became entangled in a controversy involving his claim of a sizable charitable deduction for giving his official papers to the National Archives. Nixon initially stonewalled the inquiries, including making his famous statement that “I am not a crook.” When the pressure increased, he contended correctly that the IRS had already audited the pertinent returns and not ordered any change.

But a leak subsequently revealed that Nixon, despite having income of more than $200,000, had paid about the same amount of tax as families with incomes under $10,000. Outrage at this revelation eventually led Nixon to seek review of his taxes from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, which delegated the task to its respected nonpartisan staff. The staff ultimately found that Nixon owed almost $500,000 in additional taxes over four years — roughly one-half of his net worth at the time. Because of the importance of the matter to the nation, the Joint Committee exercised its authority and voted 9 to 1 (three Republicans joined six Democrats) to release the staff report, including Nixon’s confidential tax return information, to the public.

Though our new president may not realize it, Congress has the power to obtain his tax returns and reveal them to the public without his consent, including returns under audit.

Congress’s right to reveal tax information independent of the president’s authority proved extremely important in 1973 and 1974, when President Richard Nixon became entangled in a controversy involving his claim of a sizable charitable deduction for giving his official papers to the National Archives. Nixon initially stonewalled the inquiries, including making his famous statement that “I am not a crook.” When the pressure increased, he contended correctly that the IRS had already audited the pertinent returns and not ordered any change.

But a leak subsequently revealed that Nixon, despite having income of more than $200,000, had paid about the same amount of tax as families with incomes under $10,000. Outrage at this revelation eventually led Nixon to seek review of his taxes from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, which delegated the task to its respected nonpartisan staff. The staff ultimately found that Nixon owed almost $500,000 in additional taxes over four years — roughly one-half of his net worth at the time. Because of the importance of the matter to the nation, the Joint Committee exercised its authority and voted 9 to 1 (three Republicans joined six Democrats) to release the staff report, including Nixon’s confidential tax return information, to the public.

The IRS is not interested in anything other than if Trump owes them money. Issues involving conflicts of interests and criminal activity is of no concern to them.

in Commissioner v. Tellier, he U.S. Supreme Court reiterated that the purpose of the tax code was to tax net income, not punish unlawful behavior.

If you tell the IRS you made $1 million from stealing money or dealing drugs, does the agency tip off the cops?

Legally, it can't, unless a law-enforcement agency gets a court order granting it access to a specific taxpayer's return. The IRS isn't supposed to proactively alert other agencies about misdeeds unless terrorism is involved. In that case, it still needs a court order to disclose anything, but the IRS can initiate the legal process on its own.

The rules are all spelled out in an IRS guide to "section 6103," the law that covers tax-return confidentiality. Like many legal statutes, it's complex and filled with loopholes. For example, the IRS might not be allowed to share the contents of actual tax returns on its own initiative, but it can divulge supplemental information obtained from outside sources -- like witnesses interviewed in an audit investigation -- "to apprise federal criminal law enforcement agencies of possible crimes," according to the agency's guide.

But Trump's tax returns may reveal that he owes money to foreign entities. He can't borrow money from traditional sources because his credit tanked. We need to know if he has some debtor's allegiance to a foreign power that would affect his allegiance to the USA!

Though our new president may not realize it, Congress has the power to obtain his tax returns and reveal them to the public without his consent, including returns under audit.

Congress’s right to reveal tax information independent of the president’s authority proved extremely important in 1973 and 1974, when President Richard Nixon became entangled in a controversy involving his claim of a sizable charitable deduction for giving his official papers to the National Archives. Nixon initially stonewalled the inquiries, including making his famous statement that “I am not a crook.” When the pressure increased, he contended correctly that the IRS had already audited the pertinent returns and not ordered any change.

But a leak subsequently revealed that Nixon, despite having income of more than $200,000, had paid about the same amount of tax as families with incomes under $10,000. Outrage at this revelation eventually led Nixon to seek review of his taxes from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, which delegated the task to its respected nonpartisan staff. The staff ultimately found that Nixon owed almost $500,000 in additional taxes over four years — roughly one-half of his net worth at the time. Because of the importance of the matter to the nation, the Joint Committee exercised its authority and voted 9 to 1 (three Republicans joined six Democrats) to release the staff report, including Nixon’s confidential tax return information, to the public.

The IRS is not interested in anything other than if Trump owes them money. Issues involving conflicts of interests and criminal activity is of no concern to them.

in Commissioner v. Tellier, he U.S. Supreme Court reiterated that the purpose of the tax code was to tax net income, not punish unlawful behavior.

If you tell the IRS you made $1 million from stealing money or dealing drugs, does the agency tip off the cops?

Legally, it can't, unless a law-enforcement agency gets a court order granting it access to a specific taxpayer's return. The IRS isn't supposed to proactively alert other agencies about misdeeds unless terrorism is involved. In that case, it still needs a court order to disclose anything, but the IRS can initiate the legal process on its own.

The rules are all spelled out in an IRS guide to "section 6103," the law that covers tax-return confidentiality. Like many legal statutes, it's complex and filled with loopholes. For example, the IRS might not be allowed to share the contents of actual tax returns on its own initiative, but it can divulge supplemental information obtained from outside sources -- like witnesses interviewed in an audit investigation -- "to apprise federal criminal law enforcement agencies of possible crimes," according to the agency's guide.

But Trump's tax returns may reveal that he owes money to foreign entities. He can't borrow money from traditional sources because his credit tanked. We need to know if he has some debtor's allegiance to a foreign power that would affect his allegiance to the USA!

Click to expand...

Right, I'm sure Obama's IRS wouldn't had tipped off the DoJ or the Dems if they found anything suspicious in his taxes.

Though our new president may not realize it, Congress has the power to obtain his tax returns and reveal them to the public without his consent, including returns under audit.

Congress’s right to reveal tax information independent of the president’s authority proved extremely important in 1973 and 1974, when President Richard Nixon became entangled in a controversy involving his claim of a sizable charitable deduction for giving his official papers to the National Archives. Nixon initially stonewalled the inquiries, including making his famous statement that “I am not a crook.” When the pressure increased, he contended correctly that the IRS had already audited the pertinent returns and not ordered any change.

But a leak subsequently revealed that Nixon, despite having income of more than $200,000, had paid about the same amount of tax as families with incomes under $10,000. Outrage at this revelation eventually led Nixon to seek review of his taxes from the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, which delegated the task to its respected nonpartisan staff. The staff ultimately found that Nixon owed almost $500,000 in additional taxes over four years — roughly one-half of his net worth at the time. Because of the importance of the matter to the nation, the Joint Committee exercised its authority and voted 9 to 1 (three Republicans joined six Democrats) to release the staff report, including Nixon’s confidential tax return information, to the public.

The guy wants to strengthen our borders, increase the number of quality jobs in country, improve our military, spend our tax money wisely (outside of the wall), make healthcare affordable again, fix some of the banking regulations that shouldn't exist, and protect the people's (outside of the media) first amendment rights... So what does he get? Called a psychopath, loser, moron, gets death threats, and gets bashed by the biased media every day of his life. I'm ashamed to even be an American anymore. Maybe Donald wouldn't act like such a nutcase if we didn't have a media full of retards and a country full of entitled women and minorities who've turned this country into a sob-fest over everything that's not soft and considered walking on eggshells.

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